That Deep Purple is playing Montreux Jazz is especially noteworthy when you consider the band’s “Smoke On The Water” described a real-life blaze at the Montreux Casino, and the song’s line about “Funky Claude” was a reference to festival founder Claude Nobs. Performing with a symphony orchestra, Deep Purple plays Montreux Jazz July 16.

Other dates to remember include Ricky Martin performing July 6; Sting bringing his “Symphonicity” tour July 11; Seal July 12 and Paul Simon July 14.

Montreux organizers had scheduled April 14 for announcing the lineup, but moved the initial announcement to today after discovering it had leaked onto the ‘Net.

From MontreuxJazz.com:

“We are flattered that this information catches so much attention and gives rise to many rumors, though we would obviously have preferred that the program was announced as scheduled on April 14, 2011.”